In a heartbreaking development, veteran actor and comedian Richard Belzer on early Sunday morning died at the age of 78. Richard Belzer's friend Laraine Newman and writer Bill Scheft confirmed the comedian's death. Richard Belzer's friend Laraine Newman wrote, "I'm so sad to hear of Richard Belzer's passing. I loved this guy so much. He was one of my first friends when I got to New York to do SNL. We used to go out to dinner every week at Sheepshead Bay for lobster. One of the funniest people ever. A master at crowd work. RIP dearest." Writer Bill Scheft revealed more about the comedian's death and even revealed Richard Belzer's last words.
Talking to a US-based news portal, writer Bill Scheft stated that Belzer died early Sunday at his home in Bozouls in southwest France. Bill Scheft, a longtime friend of the actor was quoted by a US media portal. "He had lots of health issues, and his last words were, ‘F*ck you, motherf*cker,'” Scheft said. For the unversed, Belzer made his film debut in the hilarious The Groove Tube (1974), warmed up audiences in the early days of Saturday Night Live and famously was put to sleep by Hulk Hogan.
The beloved actor, who started out on the standup circuit, found mainstream audiences with his roles on NBC's Homicide: Life on the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, becoming instantly identifiable with his character, police detective John Munch. Like his onscreen alter ego, Belzer had a fascination with conspiracy theories, and wrote four books — two of them New York Times bestsellers — about what he saw as "controversial cover-ups."
Richard Belzer death reason: Comedian & 'SUV' star dies at 78, friend Laraine Newman announces